Electrically actuated detonator for caps on a tape



March 29, 1960 wE|MER 2,930,157

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DETONATOR FOR CAPS ON A TAPE Filed Sept. 6, 1957 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W lull iwi W W W m s 15 e 15 D ll INVENTOR Marth 29, 1960 J. H. WEIMER 2,930,157

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DETONATOR FOR CAPS ON A TAPE Filed Sept. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F ZFLG. 5

INVENTOR March 29, 1960 J. H. WEIMER 2,930,157

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DETONATOR FOR CAPS ON A TAPE 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept; 6, 1957 FlG.6.

iz- -m h 43 zw rz 10a" INVENTOR JOHN H. WEIMER March 29, 1960 J. H. WEIMER 1 2,930,157

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED DETONATOR FOR CAPS ON A TAPE Filed Sept. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN H. EIMER United States Patent O ELECTRICALLYACTUATED DETONATOR FOR CAPS ON A TAPE John H. Weimer, Manheim, Manufacturing Company, of Pennsylvania Application September 6, 1957, Serial No. 682,444 3 Claims. (or. 42-51 Pa., assignor to The Hubley Lancaster, Pa., a corporation invention relates to automatic detonators for toys and more particularly to the type producing a continuous, rapid successiongof explosions froni'a tape of caps upon the single actuation of a controlled element such as a trigger in atoy machine gun or a conventional timer and switch in, asimulated warship or other craft.

f Heretofore, it has been proposed to obtain rapid fire elfects by the use of a spring motor-driven anvil and hammer element upon releasing the energy of the spring of the motor to a train of gearing. However, it has not, so far as I am aware, been possible to provide a practical electricallydriven detonating mechanism be cause, an electric motor small enough to be operated on i a new dry cells suitable for use in a toy, would not produce. adequate powenor mechanical energy, to actuate the'hammer' against the force of its cam and spring arrangement, to provide the necessary percussive blows to explode the caps.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to ,pro. vide an electrically actuated detonating unit controlled .by an appropriately operated switch in a circuit including a motor and dry cells, the motor having a shaft carrying a small relatively high speed pinion meshing with. power producing gearing for actuating the cam disc,hammer, and tape feed.

. ,"fAnother 'objectis to provide novel compact gearing arrangements for amplifying the power delivered by the motor, to the hammer tape feeding means. A further object is to provide a simple and compact construction, which readily lends itself to mass-production by conventional procedures and machines to provide abrugged, low-cost detonating unit that will survive much a i g A still further object is to provide a novel unitary hammer and actuating arm which is positive and reliable in operation and materially facilitates the assemp y-0 th n M .Withthe above and other objects in view, which will more readilyappearas ,the nature of the invention is hettenunderstood, the .same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

Preferred and practical-embodiments of the invention are showningtheaaccompanying drawings, in which: :':*F1gu re-1.-is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating one use of the preferred embodiment of the inven i n;- ,mFigure 2 is-a top plan view of the detonating unit shown in Figure 1. t i a Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the unit shown in Figure 2.

.Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken on, the line 4-4, Figure 2.

,; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification. txFi'gure 7. is a top plan view, of the form of the inven- Patented Mar. 29, 1960 'Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, it will be observed that the detonating unit designated generally as A may be mounted in any appropriate toy such for example, .as in the receiver portion B of a toy simulating a machine gun.

The receiver includes the usual stock portion having a hand grip B to enable the user conveniently to manipulate the trigger T, which in this case is part of a switch or'circuit closer, as will later appear.

The detonator unit A is actuated by an electric motor M having drii'e pinion D. This motor is included in a circuit comprising a conductor 1, connected at one end to the motor and at itsopposite end connected to the movable conductive trigger T normally spring biased to open position and constituting a portion of .a switch including a fixed contact 2, connected by lead 3, with the central contact 4 of a series of dry ce1ls 5. These calls are for example, in contact with the metallic shell of the motor thus to provide a return or ground circuit.

The arrangement above described may be varied to suit the type of device in which the detonator unit A is installed, and it Will, of course, be understood, as previously indicated, that any suitable form of circuit may be used for energizing and de-energizing the motor.

'Referring more in detail to the detonator unit A,

it will be observed that the same comprises a housing including a base or bottom wall 6 and a hollow cover C suitably connected at their .outer edge portions. The cover C has'a flange 7 .to act as a debris guard.

' The bottom wall of the housing is provided at its outer side with a central journal sleeve 8 which receives a stub-shaft 9 having a reduced lower end portion for entering a central opening in the reduction gear 10. This gear is connected by a key and slot arrangement 11 and 11a respectively with the shaft 9 'so that 9 and 10 turn together and 10 receives its power from the drive pinion D of the motor M.

'The stub-shaft 9 is in turn provided with a small input gear or pinion 12 meshing with gear 13 at the inside face of the bottom plate. Thus, the gear 13 is a part of the epicyclic gearing driven by the motor pinion D, The gear 13 is also provided with an axial opening 14 for receiving a post 15 fixed to the underside of an outputdisc 16 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). This disc may be conveniently termed a cam disc. 7 Also, it may be noted that the gear 13 is eccentrically mounted to the disc 16 and rotates freely upon post 15.

Suitably spaced on the disc 16 about the shaft 17 are a plurality ofcams 18 all of which are offset at the same side of the disk to provide an annular series of elements for actuating the hammer means H as will later appear. From Fig. 5, it will beseen that each of the earns 18 are disposed at an angle which is substantially at a tangent to but spaced from the axis of the shaft 17.

. Again referring to Fig. 5, the shaft 17 is provided with a portion 17a of reduced diameter having a spline or key 19 intended to fit in a mating slot 20 in one edge of the center opening 21 of a roller 22 which serves as a combined captape feed and anvil. This roller is keyed to shaft. 17 so that when the disc 16 is driven by the train J 3 V of gearing 10, 11, 12, and 13, the cams 18 will suecessively pass a given point, such for example, as the roller R of the hammer means H (Fig. 5).

Before leaving the roller 22 which functions as a com bined tape feed and anvil, it may be observed that the same is provided with sprocket teeth 23 for cooperating with conventional spaced openings in the tape. And, to hold the tape against the roller, an arcuate clamp or guide member 24 is biased by spring 25 toward the periphery of the roller. The extremity 17b of shaft 17 may be conveniently provided with a lock washer 17c to hold the roller properly assembled to the shaft 17.

It may also be appropriately noted here that the shaft 17 is mounted in the hub portion 17d on the inside face of a cover C which cooperates with the bottom wall 6 to house the disc 16 and the gearing for operating the same.

Fig. 2 illustrates the position of the roller 22 relative to the spring biased tape clamping member 24 and the roll of cap tape 26. As will also be observed from Figs. 1 and 2, the tape guide 24 is pivoted'at 24a to the cover C and the spring 25 has one end connected with an arm 24 while its other end is anchored to a pin 27.

The cover C is provided with an internal ring gear 28 which is stationary and is engaged by the teeth of the gear 13 mounted on post of the disc 16. As the gear 13 is driven by pinion 1.2, it moves around within the internal ring gear 28 of the cover C. The cover and its gear 28 are fixed because they are interlocked, with the bottom wall 6. 7

The gear reduction is arrived at by using the following formula:

where:

No=r.p.m. of output disc 16 (Fig. 5) Ni=r.p.m. of input gear 12 (Fig. 5) d=pitch dia. of input gear 12 (Fig. 5) D=pitch dia. of ring gear 28 (Fig. 5)

The gear 13 is in effect a planetary gear with respect to the hub 17d and gear 28 whose axis is fixed, and coincides with the axis of the rotary shaft 17 of the disc 16.

The cover C is provided with a radially offset bracket portion 29 which supportsthe hammer assembly H; As will be seen more particularly from Figs. 1, 2, 3, this assembly is substantially V-shaped in the respect that it includes the angularly disposed hammer arm 30 and the actuating arm 31. The latter carries the roller R. These two angularly disposed arms are offset in parallel planes relative to their axis of movement so that the striking force of the hammer arm 30 will be exerted in a plane to engage the periphery of the roller 22 While the arm 31 carrying the roller R will be in another plane, within the cover C to be in the path of the cams 18.

The apical portion of the hammer assembly H is movably supported on the bracket 29 through the medium of the sleeve 32 and pivot pin 33, the latter having its leading end threaded to engage in related opening of the bracket 29.

The hammer arm 30 is also provided with an arm 34 for receiving one end of a spring 35 whose opposite end 36- is connected to the lug 37 on the cover C. The spring 35 urges the hammer assembly towards the succession of cams 18, and also urges the face 30a of the hammerhead towards the combined roller 22.

Fig. 5 shows the various parts in their separated relation, but assuming that these parts are assembled for use to constitute the unit A, as shown in Figs. 1-4, the operation will be as follows:

When the trigger T is pulled against the force of its spring. to engage the contact 2, the circuit from the batteries Swill be closed to the motor M. The" pinion D will rotate gear 10 carried by stub shaft 9. The pinion 12 of stub shaft 9 will turn gear 13, so that it will travel within and about the internal ring gear 28 of the cover. Since the gear 13 is carried by post 15 of disc 16, the latter will rotate and the cams 18 will alternately engage the roller R so that the hammer arm 30 will be alternately dropped with detonating force against the periphery of the roller 22 which feeds the caps consecutively in position for firing. Inasmuch as the anvil 22 is keyed to shaft 17 of the disc 16, the tape feed roller and cams 18 on the discs 16 will operate in unison to provide the required synchronized intermittent movement of the hammer and tape to detonate the caps in regular firing order.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6l0, inclusive, it will be understood that the motor M will perform the same function as the motor M in Figs. 1-5, inclusive in the sense that it constitutes the primary driving force for the gearing which moves the disc having the cams for intermittently actuating the hammer means H 7 In this form the housing includes a bottom plate 64 and a cover C Beginning with the motor driven pinion D at the bottom of Fig. 10, it will be seen that the same meshes with the peripheral toothed portion of a gear 10a, having: a central stem 40 the lower end 40a of which passes through gear 10a and is journaled in the bearing 40b of the bottom plate 6a. The stem 40 at the upper face of the gear 10 is provided with a cam 41. This cam is engaged by the inner abutment faces 42 of a yoke arm 43 pivotally connected by links 44 with the pins 45 on the bottom plate 6a. Thus, as the pinion D drives gear 10a the cam 41 will reciprocate the yoke arm 43 within the limits provided by the links 14.

The linkage 43 and 44 keeps the slot 46 and pin 47 always in a position to impart a constant angular velocity to gear 48. If this linkage were not used pulsations would develop in the angular motion of the ring gear 50.

The medial bottom portion of the yoke arm 43 is provided with an elongated slot 46 radially disposed with respect to stem 40 and which, in turn, receives an anchor pin 47 on the underside of gear 48 whose central circular opening 49 fits over the cam 41. The engagement of pin 47 in slot 46 prevents gear 48 from rotating. Cam

41 imparts a circular motion to gear 48 thereby causing a portion of the teeth thereof to engage a portion of internal ring gear 50, whose diameter is greater than that" of gear 48. This arrangement allows for a considerable reduction in r.p.m.s of disc 16a and therefore a substantial increase in power.

The stem 40 which is coaxial with the bearing 40!; passes through the sleeve 51 of the disc 16:: and is not keyed thereon.

The sleeve 51 is interlocked with the roller 22a which provides the tape feed and anvil, and the latter is caused to rotate sequentially to fire the caps on the tape feed by the sprocket elements 23a. The tape is held to the face of the anvil 23a by the arcuate guide member 24a biased by spring 25a to normal position.

The hammer H assembly includes a striking arm 30b having the striking face 300 on its head for engagement with the roller 22a. The arm 30b is preferably secured toa cam engaging element 31b having a tip portion R for engaging with the cams 18a. Arms 30b and 31b are disposed in spaced parallel planes along the axis 33a of the substantiallytriangular hammer unit H This unit is biased toward the roller 22a by the spring 35a.

Assuming that the parts of Fig. 10 are assembled in unit form, as indicated in Figs. 6-9, inclusive, and a circuit is closed to the motor M the operation will be as follows: v

The drive pinion D will rotate the gear 101: carrying the cam 41. The pin 47 operating in slot 46 will prevent gear 48 from rotating but the cam will cause the teeth of .48 to continuously push the ring gear 50 around and thus turn disc 16a with its cams. ,Thus, the gear 48 does not turn on its axis, but traverses a planetary path with respect to the gear 50.

As the disc 16:: is rotated, the cams 18a will engage the tip R of the hammer assembly H and alternately release the striking face 300 of the hammer with'its percussive force against the periphery of the roller 22a.

The pinion D driven by the'M operates at a relatively high r.p.m. rate, and, in engaging the teeth of the gear a considerable gear reduction ratio takes place. This gear reduction in the form of increased power moves the cam 41 so that the slot46 ofthe yoke engaging with 1 pin 47 on gear 48 simply pushes the gear 48 around in relation to the internal gear 50. The engagement of the teeth of 48 with the teeth of 50 which corresponds to and is caused by the maximum radius of the cam, efiects a great gear reductionwhich gives ample power to the disc 16a toenable it to efiectively actuate the hammer assembly at a speed proportionate to the speed of the motor driven pinion D The gearireduction for the automatic detonating mechanism shown in Figures 610 inclusive is found by using the formula below: a

where:

No=r.p.m. of output disc 16 Ni=r.p.m. of input shaft 40 D=pitch dia. of ring gear 50 d=pitch dia. of planet gear 48 The motors M and M range in their revolutions per minute from approximately 2,600 r.p.m.to 9,200 r.p.m.

assembled unit for detonating caps on a tape,'comprising in combination, an annular cover having an outer face and a side flange provided with a lateral opening, a rotatable anvil for supporting a segment of said cap tape, a ring gear on the cover within said flange, a hub portion on the inner face of said cover and having an axis coinciding with the axis of said ring gear, a circular disc, at V including an actuating arm disposed within said opening able anvil at the outer face of the cover and connected with the shaft carrying the disc, said anvil supporting a segment of said cap tape, ,a hammer cooperating with the anvil and pivotally connected to the periphery of said cover, said hammer also having an actuating arm disposed within said lateral opening for intermittent engagement with said cams, gearing for turning said disc, an electric motor having a pinion for driving said gearing, and switch means in an electric circuit including said motor and which switch when closed will cause the motor to drive said gearing to cause said hammer to successively detonate the aps on said anvil.

2. An electrically actuated, selfcontained and pre- 7 for intermittent engagement with said cams, a stub-shaft having one end journalled in the related ,end of said shaft, a pinion on said stub-shaft, a gear eccentrically mounted on the disc and engaging said pinion and the internal ring gear on the cover, a base plate for covering and concealing said disc and said eccentrically mounted gear and the internal ring gear, a gear on the portion of said stub-shaft exposed at the outer side of the base plate, an electric motor having a pinion for driving said.

stub-shaft gear, and switch means in an electrical circuit including said motor and which switch when closed will cause the motor to drive said gearing to cause said hammer to successively detonae the caps on said anvil.

3. An electrically actuated unit for detonating caps on a tape, comprising, in combination, a substantially circular cover provided with an oifset bracket, a hub portion centrally located on the inner face of said cover, a disc concentrically mounted within said cover and provided I with a plurality of cams, a shaft mounted at the center of said disc, said shaft passing through saidhub portion and extending beyond the outer face of said cover, 'a circular anvil mounted upon said shaft extension to support a segment ofisaid cap tape, an arcuate opening in the side wall of said cover adjacent said oflset bracket, a hammer pivotally connected to said bracket and having an actuating arm and a hammer arm, said actuating arm disposed within said arcuate opening for engagement by said cams, said hammer arm disposed above the outer face of said cover and cooperating with said anvil, a wall enclosing the bottom of the cover, gearing for turning said disc, a compartment adjacent said bottom wall, said compartment housing an electric motor having a pinion for driving said gearing, and switch means in an switch'causing said motor to drive said gearing to cause said hammer to successively detonate the caps on said anvil. 7

References Cited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,706 Havill Nov. 12, 1940 2,569,913 Anderson Oct. 2, 1951 2,723,478 Douglas Nov. l5, i955 2,729,011 'Frye Jan. 3, 1956 Bois June 3, 1958 

